The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has announced that it is to trial a new lifeboat station at Union Hall in south west Cork. At a meeting of the RNLI Board of Trustees the decision was taken to establish an inshore lifeboat station at Union Hall for a trial period [...]

The film recalling the dramatic rescue of 23 people from a steamship off Baltimore during the First World War was finished on Sunday after a very busy weekend. A professional film crew from the UK, sponsored by Arts Council England, visited Baltimore to produce the film in a collaboration with the RNLI and the Baltimore Drama Group.

The production is part of an RNLI heritage project. It will focus on the work of the RNLI and coastal communities during World War One will feature in a four year exhibition entitled Hope in the Great War. Opening in February next year, this family friendly exhibition will see some of the untold stories of the RNLI’s work during WW1 brought to life with six stories from around the coast of Ireland and the UK.

The dramatic rescue goes back to the 29 December 1916 when the steamship Alondra was wrecked on the Kedge Rock, off Baltimore. Sixteen of her crew left in one of the ship’s boats, but drowned before reaching the shore. The Venerable Archeacon John Richard Hedge Becher (Honorary Secretary of Baltimore RNLI) and some volunteers launched a boat but it failed to reach the vessel. They returned to Baltimore but put off again as some of the ship’s crew had made the rock. Failing to reach the wreck they put back to shore again. At daylight they set out with rocket apparatus. About the same time, two Royal Navy trawlers came upon the scene and the efforts of all, saved 23 survivors some of whom were lowered down a 150 foot cliff.

RNLI Silver Medals for Gallantry were awarded to Archdeacon Becher and Lieutenant Sanderson for their role in helping to rescue the 23 men from Alondra.

Among the cast retelling the story at the weekend were Baltimore RNLI crew member Tadhg Collins, sea safety officer Michael Walsh, former crew member Pat Flaherty and Bernie O’Driscoll, wife of the late Bernard O’Driscoll, former Honorary Secretary.

Pat Flaherty, who plays the role of Archdeacon Becher and is the chair of Baltimore Drama Group said filming went well: ‘The Drama Group and the lifeboat crew worked very well together on this project and it created great interest locally in the history. People who’d never heard of the Alondra went and did research and found books about it’.

Michael Walsh, who played the role of one of Becher’s crew enjoed being involved: ‘I had got interested in the subject matter of the Alondra. Coming from an RNLI background, I found it a privilege to work on the historical account and an honour to work with such a professional film crew’.

Director Paul Fitzgerald of I Made This, said it was pleasure to work with all involved: ‘I had no idea what to expect before we arrived in Baltimore, but it couldn’t have gone better. The cast and crew all behaved like professionals and were a pleasure to work with’.

After many weeks of planning we are finally ready to roll cameras. The community hall has been transformed into a stage set with drapes and lights. Props have been collected and costumes altered. Tomorrow we begin shooting the film that will relate the story of the SS Alondra rescue through a series of vignettes.

The role of Baltimore in the rescue of 23 people from a steamship called Alondra which was wrecked off the Kedges in late 1916, is to be featured in an RNLI touring exhibition commemorating the centenary of World War One (WW1). The charity’s exhibition, funded by Arts Council England, is calledHope in the Great War and will honour the courage and bravery of the lifeboat crew who risked their lives to save others during WW1.

While a lot of people will be familiar with the sinking of the Lusitania off the Cork coast in 1915, not as many will be aware of this rescue which took place in Baltimore a year later.

A decision by the RNLI charity to establish a lifeboat station at Baltimore was made in 1913 but its actual opening took place in 1919, having been delayed by the First World War.

It was on the 29 December 1916 that the SS Alondra was wrecked on the Kedge Rock, off Baltimore. Sixteen of her crew left in one of the ship’s boats, but drowned before reaching the shore. The Venerable Archeacon John Richard Hedge Becher (Honorary Secretary of Baltimore RNLI) and some volunteers launched a boat but it failed to reach the vessel. They returned to Baltimore but put off again as some of the ship’s crew had made the rock. Failing to reach the wreck they put back to shore again. At daylight they set out with rocket apparatus. About the same time, two Royal Navy trawlers came upon the scene and the efforts of all, saved 23 survivors some of whom were lowered down a 150 foot cliff.

RNLI Silver Medals for Gallantry were awarded to Archdeacon Becher and Lieutenant Sanderson for their role in helping to rescue the 23 men from Alondra.

Baltimore’s lifesaving story has been chosen to feature alongside five other RNLI lifeboat services that took place in communities across Ireland and the UK. Opening in February 2014 at the Henry Blogg Museum in Norfolk, Hope in the Great War will start a four year tour around RNLI museums, lifeboat stations and other museums.

Now the RNLI is asking the local community in Baltimore to get in contact if they know of any details such as family memories, photographs, letters or artefacts connected to the rescue. The most relevant items may be selected to feature within the exhibition allowing the fullest story of the rescue to be told nationally.

Becky Fletcher, RNLI Heritage Project Co-ordinator said: ‘The outstanding efforts by Baltimore’s RNLI volunteers to save lives in WW1 will now be given a voice. Although little details are known about the SS Alondra rescue, finding any connections would undoubtedly be of further inspiration.’

To pass on any family memories, anecdotes, photos or letters, please email Rebecca_Fletcher@rnli.org.uk or call the RNLI Henry Blogg Museum on 01263 511294.

Locally meanwhile, Baltimore RNLI is teaming up with members of the Baltimore Amateur Drama Group to create a piece of artwork for the tour. The group is creating a short film about the rescue which will feature within the exhibition.

Olan Marten, spokesperson for the drama group explains: ‘With so many members of the RNLI supporting our productions over the years, as either cast members, crew or audience it is a great honour to do something for them and also to honour the brave men involved in the Alondra rescue. It’s an unusual production as the crew and the director will meet for the first time on the first day of filming. Not only that but the film will travel all over Ireland and the UK for four years introducing these local amateur actors to a huge audience.’

Baltimore RNLI will be the second Cork lifeboat station to mark the role it played during World War One. The Courtmacsherry RNLI Lusitania Centenary Committee has already appealed to the public for artefacts, stories and memorabilia to be part of a major exhibition to commemorate the centenary of the sinking of the Lusitania off the Cork coast in 1915. They are also calling on any family members of those lost or saved in the Lusitania tragedy to contact them to share their stories, which will then be compiled and included in the exhibition.

The commemoration will be held on the May Bank holiday weekend 2015 with the centrepiece being a Lusitania Exhibition in Courtmacsherry RNLI Lifeboat Station and other local venues. Courtmacsherry lifeboat responded to the tragedy in 1915 and to coincide with the exhibition, the lifeboat crew will re-enact the call to service and row out to the site of the disaster.

On the 3rd of October we welcomed two guests John and Sheila Smith to our newly refurbished boathouse at Bull Point, Baltimore. John and Sheila were visiting the station as representatives of benefactors Alec Christopher and Elizabeth Olive Thompson, who bequested money to the RNLI, which was spent on our Station Boathouse redevelopment.

On their arrival John and Sheila were greeted by station management, members of our station fundraising committee, and several crew from both of the Lifeboats based at our station. After lunch, John and Shiela were treated to a tour of the facilities, and of both the inshore and all-weather lifeboats. They greatly impressed the crew and staff with their keen interest and enthusiasm for all that they saw at the station.

At the end of the tour John and Sheila were presented with a framed photo, taken by lifeboat helmsman Youen Jacob, of the newly refurbished boathouse with both lifeboats in their respective holding areas, as a momento of their visit and also as thank you from Baltimore Lifeboat Station.

Thank you John and Sheila for your visit, but also abig thank you to the late Alec Christopher and Elizabeth Olive Thompson for the legacy that they left behind. A legacy that has put a state of the art facility in place in Baltimore, that will undoubtdly aid in the rescue of many.

RNLI volunteer lifeboat crews in Ireland were kept busy this summer, with the charity’s lifeboats launching 571 times during the months of June, July and August. The figure represents an increase of 43 per cent on the previous summer.

While many people were enjoying the prolonged sunshine and the hottest summer for a number of years, Irish RNLI lifeboat crews were out helping those in trouble around the Irish coast and on inland waters at Lough Derg, Lough Ree and Lough Erne.

Baltimore Lifeboat station experienced a 50% increase in services this Summer making it the 4th busiest station in Ireland. Lifeboats were launched 24 times this Summer as opposed to 16 times in Summer 2012. (The all weather lifeboat had 15 services and inshore lifeboat 9 services)

The busiest lifeboat station in Ireland over the summer period (1 June to 31 August) was Dun Laoghaire which was called out 34 times. This was followed by Portrush in Antrim who launched 26 times and Crosshaven in Cork, whose volunteer crew were out 25 times over the summer.

Gareth Morrison, RNLI Divisional Operations Manager said: ‘With more people travelling to the coast over the summer months RNLI volunteer lifeboat crews were busy keeping people safe. The commitment shown by our lifesavers that launched at all hours of the day and night in various conditions was outstanding.

The lifeboat open day takes place next Sunday 29th September from 2:30pm – 5:30pm. The public are most welcome to come and see the new station house and lifeboats at Bullpoint.

All associated with Baltimore Lifeboat would like to extend a huge congratulations to Revelin Minihane, and the crew of Team Oracle USA. Revelin is a helm on the Inshore Lifeboat based at the station, and also a crewman on our All weather boat. Revelin has spent years jetting off around [...]

The all weather lifeboat was launched to carry out a medical evacuation from Cape Clear Island in West Cork this evening. The call for assistance was made at 10:04pm on Monday 23rd Sept when a 15 year old youth required urgent medical attention. The all weather lifeboat Alan Massey was launched within minutes under the command of Coxswain Kieran Cotter proceeding to North Harbour on Cape Clear Island in fresh weather conditions. The lifeboat collected the youth and in less than one hour had brought him to Baltimore to deliver him into the care of the ambulance service.

Coxswain Kieran Cotter remarked that ‘given its speed and sea worthiness, the lifeboat is ideal for use in these emergencies’.

Next Sunday 29th Sept the crew of lifeboat are inviting the public to the station open day between 2:30pm and 5:30pm. The new state of the art building will be open to public view, as will the Atlantic 75 RIB inshore lifeboat and the Tamar class all weather lifeboat. All welcome – free of charge.

The crew of Baltimore Lifeboat Station invite you to an open day on Sunday 29th September from 2:30pm 5:30pm. Members of the public will have an opportunity to see the redeveloped station house at Bullpoint and the co-located lifeboats operating from there. The inshore lifeboat Atlantic 75 RIB Alice and Charles is housed inside the station house on a carriage and the Tamar class all weather lifeboat Alan Massey lies alongside in a newly excavated berth. Crew will be on hand to show people around the station house and the lifeboats as well as giving a first hand account of rescues at sea. Information on RNLI Sea Safety resources will also be made available. All welcome – free of charge.

Charity’s role in maritime life-saving work recognised RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew from across Ireland took part in today’s (Sunday 27 March 2016) Easter 1916 centenary commemoration which saw over seven hundred members of the Irish emergency services taking part in the biggest parade in the history of the state. The [...]

Baltimore all-weather lifeboat Alan Massey launch at 1955 hrs last night, to transfer an ill man from Sherkin Island to Baltimore. An ambulance met the lifeboat upon its return to the station in Baltimore and the patient was transferred to the care of the ambulance paramedics and the boat made [...]

Recently released RNLI stats for 2015 show just how busy Baltimore volunteer crew have been over the past year. The all weather lifeboat Alan Massey was launched 25 times and inshore lifeboat Alice and Charles launched 14 times rescuing a total of 46 people in 2015. In total RNLI volunteer [...]

Baltimore RNLI were recently presented with a cheque for over €12,000 fundraised by the family of Niamh O’Connor. http://www.southernstar.ie/news/roundup/articles/2015/12/24/4111481-oconnor-family-raises-12k-for-rnli/

Baltimore RNLI received an an alert from Valentia Coastguard at 09:29 this morning when a young boy in urgent need of medical attention required immediate evacuation from Cape Clear Island. Coxswain Aidan Bushe along with 5 volunteer crewmen were launched within minutes of the alert in the all-weather Tamar class [...]

Baltimore RNLI Tamar class Lifeboat Alan Massey launched tonight to go to the assistance of a fishing vessel which ran aground in Glandore Harbour. The Lifeboat was tasked at 2125 and arrived in Glandore Harbour where the Union Hall Inshore Lifeboat was evacuating the crew from the stricken vessel. The [...]

Sisters Yvonne O’Keeffe & Gillian O’Sullivan are running in the Dublin Marathon on 26th October and have set up a charity page to hopefully make a few bob for the RNLI Baltimore Lifeboat Station – a cause very close to their hearts. Any donations small or large would be greatly [...]

A rescue operation took place in what must have been record time this evening 19 August. Bleepers went off at 18:19 after a 7 metre motor Boat with 2 adults on board went aground on rocks opposite the station house. The boat had suffered engine failure and had drifted onto [...]